Story thread · 3 reports / 3 sources

Just George no more. ‘Other Washingtons’ adds inclusive dimension to South Side monument

wbez.org · 4dShare

In her new public art project, Amanda Williams is grappling with what’s in a name. Specifically: Washington. It is, of course, the surname of America’s first president, memorialized in bronze in the South Side park named in his honor, where Williams’ latest work was unveiled Thursday. In “Other Washingtons,” commissioned by the Chicago Monuments Project , Williams looks beyond George. The work honors everyone from Harold Washington, the city’s first Black mayor, to entertainment superstars such as Denzel, Kerry and Dinah, as well as everyday Chicagoans, including Benjamin Washington, the longtime band director at King College Prep high school. Chicago artist Amanda Williams unveiled her latest public project, “Other Washingtons,” on Thursday. The work adds the stories of dozens of Washingtons to an existing statue featuring the nation’s first president. Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times Their stories are told through words and photos on 40 colorful flags and banners that now surround t

First report: ‘Other Washingtons’ Obscures Monument To George With Iconic Black Chicagoans Who Share His Last Name — blockclubchicago.org, 4d